SEO Agency Audit is the answer to all doubts about cooperation between a company and an SEO agency (or freelancer). In the model of cooperation in online marketing, often implemented in a subscription fee model, many problems arise, more or less serious – SEO consultation of an independent company can help solve them.
1. Lack of a sense of control in SEO cooperation
If you are in a situation that you control and run your business, and you feel that in the case of SEO, there is no proper control. Perhaps you don’t know what’s going on, why certain actions are being carried out, and whether they are definitely steps that can improve results – this is the moment where you can still do something about it – we will analyze all your doubts for you and respond to the best of our knowledge, whether it’s in favor of the agency or not. We care about specifics that will work in favor of promoting your site.
2. Lack of SEO results
Lack of results in SEO promotion is a very common problem that faces entrepreneurs who have planned their budgets on the basis of revenues from search results, which, quite simply, are not there. After what time such results should appear, whether the appropriate measures have been done, and whether you can expect this to improve in the future – unfortunately, without adequate knowledge, it will be difficult for you to answer such questions on your own. I would not suggest the evaluation of the agency 100%, because it is not easy to admit mistakes – even if such were made.
3. Lack of transparency of operations
This is an internal “know how” – a very common phrase that tries to hide activities from clients. By virtue of the fact that you pay for activities and not results (usually this is the form of communication) why can’t you see the results of these activities? Or perhaps they were not realized after all (but you should pay the invoice in full)? In terms of the work carried out, you should not have any doubts, just none. If you need arguments to talk about, you are in the right place. Of course, we can improve such a conversation with you as well.
4. Lack of a clear and specified plan
If you are heading to the top you should know what path you are taking. Of course, you can rely on specialists for this, but what about in a situation where you see that instead of heading upward you are standing still or going backwards? In such a situation, I would make sure that the “guide” knows the path you should take. Evaluating such a path is a different, difficult issue – but when investing your money, it’s worth getting assurance, even from an outside specialist, that the chosen strategy has the basis to work.
5. Fewer activities than you expected
In this industry, the most effective path to the top may differ from the one planned at the start. The ability to adjust the goals and methods of action in relation to the results achieved is extremely important in the work of an SEO. So how to judge whether translating texts in favor of links or links in favor of technical changes is as caloric and exactly the amount of work you would expect with a diligent approach to work? This is a very big challenge, practically impossible without experience in each of these aspects – so when in doubt, we recommend giving these elements to an independent, experienced expert for verification.
6. More effective for your competitor in the same industry
Whether agency/freelancers apply any restrictions on taking on projects in one industry is another topic. But what if you know that the same agency implements activities for your direct competitor much more effectively than for your service? I would use the knowledge and experience of an expert in such a situation to analyze such a situation, it can be from that agency if he is eager to tell you honestly.
7. Results only on reports, but not in your wallet
Positioning in itself is only one element of improving your company’s financial performance. However, a well-crafted strategy should be very close to translating into profits in your company – what if that’s not happening? Or are the reports a little too overly optimistic? Or maybe there are misplaced priorities or assumptions in the foundations of the positioning strategy? Or maybe the agency has done everything electively and the problem lies with your company? Without relevant experience, it will be difficult for you to answer such questions, knowing the specifics of SEO well, an independent consultant can explain it to you.
8 Weaknesses in customer service
Working with a SEO specialist, like any other service in the 21st century, requires efficient customer service. Whether you’re talking to the specialist himself, the account manager or the agency owner – if there are problems here, it’s quite likely that there are more, just not visible at first glance.
9. Elaborate plans without translation into action
Being able to verify the full and correct execution of plans is one of the first aspects you should be sure they are executed 100% correctly and effectively. This is the first element of expecting improved performance in the future. Do you think the plan is always fully and correctly implemented? Unfortunately, in very many cases it still leaves many, many inaccuracies. Conscientiousness in their implementation can be the key to improving SEO results.
10. Lack of conviction in SEO service
Is SEO a service for all website owners? NO.
Will SEO always be profitable for everyone? NO.
Will there always be SEO results in 12 months? NO, NO, NO.
Regardless of what your sales specialist has told you – SEO is a form of advertising that has a great many pros as well as a huge number of cons that you should know about and analyze all of them before starting the promotion itself. Unfortunately, salespeople are not always eager to discuss these negative aspects, so that talking only to them, you can have a clearly distorted optics on the topics of SEO, results and profitability of this form of advertising.
What does SEO look like from the perspective of an SEO agency?
It would be quite correct to assume that a marketing agency has as its goal the performance of the best possible service, with the aim of achieving the set goals. That is, it puts out the best man, gives him the best tools, the greatest resources and miracles happen. But is it really like that?
Every growing company, faces the question of processes, standards or procedures that allow them to grow. But in the creative industry (which I personally include SEO), what’s good for the agency itself isn’t always best for their clients.
Unfortunately, the best person is only one, processes are not always perfectly suited to every situation and every service. Because of which there are cases that working with another person in the same company or hitting mismatched processes – you can achieve different results both better and weaker. Therefore, before fully trusting a company, I highly recommend verifying at least the basic steps to make sure you are with a company that will take you to the top.
The Role of an SEO Consultant
An SEO consultant is a person who takes your goals and, as an independent specialist, analyzes how they can be achieved through SEO promotion of your site. Combined with the knowledge, strategy and actions of the SEO agency, he supports their achievement. Such an advisor is a person who cares first and foremost about achieving the results of the campaign – so if necessary, he will convince you to continue working with a company that does a good job and consistently follows through to the goal. But he also takes it upon himself to present the shortcomings of the activities, if any – so that you can make further decisions related to the advertising of your site in an informed manner.
As an SEO consultant, I do not undertake the implementation of SEO activities on my own for the people to whom I provide consulting. By doing so, I guarantee confidence that I will not offer myself as a more effective alternative to an SEO agency.
SEO agency audit cooperation model
By definition, this is a one-time service, usually costing less than your monthly SEO subscription. As a result, the audit presents a summary and evaluation of the activities, effects and plans implemented by the agency. If the agency is doing a good job – it will only reassure you. However, if, the quality of these activities is at a low level you will also get this information.
This service was developed to increase the sense of control of entrepreneurs or marketing managers towards cooperation with SEO specialists. Often he observes that the lack of such a sense affects decisions to change companies, so that a new agency, perhaps will do better, perhaps will do faster and perhaps you will end up from the rain under the gutter.
If you would like to learn more about the SEO agency audit service itself and the benefits you personally can gain from it – feel free to contact me.